News Release
Alberta takes centre stage at ADIPEC
Premier Smith joined Alberta delegates at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) to showcase Alberta’s world-class energy sector.
ADIPEC is the world’s largest energy industry exhibition and conference, bringing together government and private sector leaders to build partnerships and showcase the biggest innovations and solutions that energy leaders from around the globe have to offer.
Premier Smith joined Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow and Alberta companies in Abu Dhabi from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5. This followed three days of strengthening ties with government officials, investors, and oil and gas executives in Saudi Arabia, as part of a mission to the Middle East – one of the fastest growing markets in the world.
ADIPEC kicked off when Premier Smith joined leaders from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member countries to discuss how Alberta can meet the global need for secure, reliable and responsible energy. Premier Smith then took the stage for an Energy Talk where she addressed senior energy executives and international energy ministers to position Alberta as the partner of choice with the abundance of natural resources and environmental innovation that the world needs.
Premier Smith further highlighted Alberta’s energy ambitions in a series of roundtables with global energy leaders. These explored solutions for strengthening energy security and resilience, including energy partnerships and supply chains, while highlighting Alberta as a prime destination for investment from wealth funds and businesses in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
“Alberta’s government is working to unleash the full power of our economy and create prosperity for Albertans. While I was in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, I was strengthening Alberta’s economic opportunities across the globe in energy, food, manufacturing, artificial intelligence and more. I was thrilled by the response I received – global leaders want more of what Alberta has to offer, not less.”
Danielle Smith, Premier
Relationships with major markets and investors such as Middle Eastern governments and businesses are built on trust and friendship and take time to build. The Premier and Minister Schow travelled to ADIPEC on the heels of successful engagements with the Canada-UAE Business Council at the 2025 Calgary Stampede and Canada’s first-ever Investopia event, hosted in Alberta earlier this fall.
Premier Smith continued to build these critically important relationships by introducing Alberta energy and tech businesses to some of the largest energy and artificial intelligence companies in the world.
The Premier also strengthened our ties to the Middle East by joining high-level UAE officials for a Canada-UAE Business Council Roundtable to highlight how Alberta can provide global energy security, deliver sustainable and innovative oil and gas developments, grow new economic drivers in artificial intelligence, and attract major investments in agriculture and technology in collaboration with major Saudi and Emirati businesses and wealth funds.
Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow led a delegation of more than 70 Alberta companies to ADIPEC, where Alberta had a booth, and participated in roundtables and meetings with investors and officials in a variety of sectors, such as energy, agriculture, sciences, manufacturing and aviation. Minister Schow also connected Alberta companies and organizations with potential investors and buyers to expand their markets in the United Arab Emirates and beyond.
“The opportunity for partnerships between Alberta and the UAE is significant across every sector, including energy, life sciences, technology, manufacturing and food production. We have barely scratched the surface and are seeing real results with Alberta-based companies growing into new markets in the Middle East, thanks in part to the relationships we have built over the last several years attending ADIPEC.”
Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration
“ADIPEC has been a very good trade mission for LCO Technologies. We would like to give a big shout out to the Government of Alberta specifically the Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration for making this a successful event. Also, it was a pleasure to meet Danielle Smith, our Premier, who was very supportive of our efforts to diversify from the U.S. market.”
Steve Froehler, Director, LCO Technologies
“ADIPEC has been an incredible platform to grow our business network, discover new opportunities for collaboration, and proudly showcase our Alberta-designed and built technology.”
Amanjeet Dhaliwal, Co-Owner and Engineering and Project Management, EnReach Hot Tap Services
Alberta’s government is staying focused on growing a resilient and diversified economy. This includes bolstering diplomatic and trade and investment relationships in key markets and sectors.
Quick facts
While at ADIPEC, Premier Smith announced the opening of Alberta’s newest international office at a reception hosted by the Canada Business Council of Abu Dhabi. Alberta’s Abu Dhabi Office will be co-located in the Canadian Embassy.
Alberta’s government has chosen Abu Dhabi for its newest international office due to its status as a regional and global hub for business, investment and trade, in addition to its ability to connect Alberta to developing opportunities in the Middle East and emerging markets in North Africa.
The Middle East is a priority market for expanding Alberta’s trade and investment ties, not only in the oil and gas sector, carbon capture, utilization and storage and hydrogen and emission reductions, but also in agriculture and agri-food, data centres and life sciences.
Alberta’s exports to the Middle East totalled $700.8 million in 2024.
Top exports to the Middle East included manufactured products (machinery/appliances, $400.1 million) and agriculture and agri-food (primarily oil seeds and wheat, $257.9 million).
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are ranked as the first and second largest export markets for Alberta companies in the Middle East respectively.
Middle East-based companies and sovereign wealth funds offer significant pools of capital for potential investment into Alberta, particularly in energy, innovation and logistics.
The Gulf Cooperation Council has more than $10 billion invested in Alberta.
Pinoy Edmonton News 